Persistent Vomiting Among Children With Acute Gastroenteritis: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Children with acute gastroenteritis-associated vomiting discharged from emergency departments (EDs) have improved outcomes when provided with ondansetron for home use. However, only one-third of children who present with significant vomiting experience ongoing vomiting after discharge.
OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics associated with 3 or more vomiting episodes among pediatric patients within 24 hours of ED discharge.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This nonprespecified secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial of children aged 6 months to less than 18 years presenting to EDs between September 14, 2019, and June 27, 2024, with acute gastroenteritis-associated vomiting and who were followed up for 7 days. A prognostic score was derived using generalized linear mixed models across 10 imputed datasets. Data analysis was performed between May 9, 2025, and February 13, 2026.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was 3 or more episodes of vomiting within 24 hours of ED discharge. Secondary outcomes included unscheduled health care revisits, intravenous fluid administration, and hospitalization within 7 days after the ED visit.
RESULTS: Of 1030 children enrolled, 977 had follow-up data available and were included in this analysis (median age, 47.0 months [IQR, 22.1-80.1 months]; 493 [50.5%] girls; 925 [89.8%] with complete follow-up data). Eighty of 927 children (8.6%) had 3 or more episodes of vomiting in the 24 hours after ED discharge. In…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 1,030 participants or records.
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